Chapter 31
NOAH
‘So, how’s it all going?’ Colin asked. ‘Any developments with Alicia?’
I scrubbed my hand over my jaw, then sat on the bed as I thought about how best to answer.
It was now Friday and obviously there’d been many developments.
And in terms of how things were going between us, everything was fucking fantastic.
I’d smiled so much these past couple of days that I was surprised my face hadn’t shattered. I was just so damn happy.
When we’d got back from Mykonos yesterday afternoon, I was knackered, but I still couldn’t sleep. I just kept replaying the night we’d spent together over and over. Including the way Ali had screamed my name every time I made her come. And how good it felt to be inside her.
I’d fallen hard and fast for Ali. I was buzzing and all I’d wanted to do was to see her again.
Ali would’ve been fine just hanging out at the hotel last night, but I’d wanted to do something special to show her that as much as I enjoyed the physical side of things, she meant so much more to me than that. Which is why I’d arranged for her to see the sunset she’d missed out on.
That wanker may have screwed it up for her the first time, but I wouldn’t make the same mistake.
And I was so glad that I did. Seeing the look on Ali’s face was priceless.
Like we’d agreed, once we were back at the hotel, we’d ordered room service. We attempted to watch a film, but fell asleep halfway through. When I woke up in the middle of the night, Ali was lying on my chest, her legs draped over me, and everything felt so fucking perfect.
As I’d stroked her curls, one overwhelming thought popped into my mind and that was: I could get used to this.
Like I’d said in Oia, I wanted us to be together.
I was all in.
I sensed that Ali’s feelings hadn’t completely caught up with mine yet, but I was sure that they would. Soon.
‘It’s going well. Really well,’ I said, trying to keep my tone neutral, but wishing I could share the good news with him.
‘You slept with her!’ Colin shouted.
I swallowed hard.
Shit. How did he know?
‘What?’ I replied, thinking how best to respond. ‘I—’
‘Congrats!’ Shania screamed. ‘I knew it would happen. Didn’t I tell you, Colin? I said it was just a matter of time.’
‘He’s not denying it, so it must be true.’ Colin sighed.
‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Okay, it’s true.’ Like I’d said to Ali, I wasn’t going to lie to Colin.
‘When?’ Shania asked. ‘How? I mean, I know how the mechanics work, obviously, but I mean, how did it happen?’
I gave them the ABC and very PG version of how things had progressed. They didn’t need to know the ins and outs, excuse the pun.
‘So, does this mean Alicia’s ready to commit? Is this something serious for her?’ Colin probed.
‘I…’ I rubbed the back of my neck, not really wanting to answer the question because I knew what Colin would say. ‘I told her that I want it to be something.’
‘And what did she say?’ Colin probed. I should’ve known he wouldn’t be satisfied with my evasive response.
‘She wants to take it slow and see how things go because she’s worried about the risk to our friendship,’ I replied.
‘Mate.’ Colin sighed. ‘I don’t like the sound of this.’
‘What? Why? It’s barely been a couple of days since we both admitted we have feelings. You can’t expect her to declare that she’s ready for marriage!’ I protested.
The truth was that if that was what Ali wanted, I’d marry her tomorrow. It wasn’t like she was a stranger I’d just started dating. I’d known her almost my whole life. And there was no other woman I wanted to be with.
‘I get that. It’s just… I know how much you like her and I just want to make sure that she doesn’t mess you around. What are you going to do if she changes her mind and decides she just wants to be friends?’
‘She won’t,’ I muttered weakly. My throat went dry and I attempted to swallow the lump of concrete that had suddenly got lodged in my windpipe.
Ali wouldn’t do that.
Would she?
‘Let the poor bloke enjoy himself!’ Shania said supportively. ‘He’s been pining over Alicia since forever. And he finally gets some sweet loving from her and now you’re trying to piss all over it!’
‘Thank you!’ I laughed.
‘I know it doesn’t sound like it, but I am happy for you.
I know better than anyone how much you’ve wanted this, mate.
You always believed it’d happen and I’m not too proud to say that you were right and I was wrong.
I’m just looking out for you, that’s all.
I’m not saying that Alicia isn’t totally into you, but maybe her emotions were running high after what happened with her match and dredging up the accident stuff and she needed comfort and well, you were there. ’
‘Colin!’ Shania warned.
‘It wasn’t like that!’ I snapped.
Was it?
No.
That was exactly why I got up when we almost kissed on the boat to Mykonos. I knew she was feeling emotional and didn’t want to kiss her when she was vulnerable.
When things happened between us we were having fun. We were dancing. We’d had a good day. She was happy. She didn’t need comfort.
And she definitely couldn’t have been thinking about Adonis the dickhead.
No way.
‘I hope you’re right.’ Colin kept his tone measured. ‘I hope that this is as real for her as it is for you. But just in case, I’m saying be careful. Try not to get in too deep until you know it’s for keeps. I don’t want you to get hurt.’
My chest tightened. I knew Colin’s heart was in the right place. He was just looking out for me, but there wasn’t any need to.
I trusted Ali. I knew her. And the way she looked at me was more than a look you gave a guy you were fucking just to feel better.
And like she’d said, she didn’t want to ruin our friendship, so she wouldn’t put everything on the line, just for one wild night.
No. I just had to trust her.
Colin said I shouldn’t get in too deep, but it was too late.
I was so far gone for Ali that there was no coming back from this.
Now I just had to hope that she felt the same.